Canada Vacation Guide

Introduction

Few countries in the world offer as many choices to the world traveller as Canada. Whether your passion is skiing, sailing, museum-combing or indulging in exceptional cuisine, Canada has it all.

Western Canada is renowned for its stunningly beautiful countryside. Stroll through Vancouver’s Stanley Park, overlooking the blue waters of English Bay or ski the slopes of world-famous Whistler-Blackcomb, surrounded by thousands of hectares of pristine forestland. For a cultural experience, you can take an Aboriginal nature hike to learn about Canada’s First Nations’ history and cuisine, while outdoorsmen can river-raft, hike or heli-ski the thousands of kilometres of Canada’s backcountry, where the memories of gold prospectors and pioneers still flourish today.

By contrast, Eastern Canada mixes the flavour and charm of Europe with the bustle of trendy New York. Toronto boasts an irresistible array of ethnic restaurants, bakeries and shops to tempt the palate, while Charlottetown, Canada’s birthplace, is located amidst the rolling fields and sandy Atlantic beaches of Prince Edward Island. Between the two, ancient Quebec City is a world unto itself: the oldest standing citadel in North America and the heart of Québécois hospitality.

Full country name: Canada
Area: 9.97 million sq km
Population: 31.82 million
Capital City: Ottawa
People: British descent, French descent, Italian descent, aboriginal peoples, plus significant minorities of Irish, German, Ukrainian, Dutch, Greek, Polish and Chinese descent
Language: English, French
Religion: Catholic (45%), Protestant (36%) and minorities from most of the world's major religions
Government: constitutional monarchy
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -3.5 to GMT/UTC -8
Dialling Code: 1
Electricity: 110-120V ,60Hz
Currency: Canadian Dollar

We constantly update Canada vacation deals and flights + hotel packages. There are vacation guides and useful travel information for Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Whistler and Winnipeg.

We also have last minute Canada vacations or if you just need a hotel, check out some of the best hotels and resorts in Canada.

Most Western visitors don't need a visa to visit Canada for up to 180 days. Travellers from South Africa, China, North Korea, Taiwan, Eastern European and developing countries do require them. Entry stamps for visits of up to six months are free.
More Information About Visa Requirements

Visitors entering the country from major continental US cities can choose to arrive by plane, train, bus or car. There are four main rail routes from the USA: New York-Montreal, New York-Toronto, Buffalo-Depew and Seattle-Vancouver. The USA's Greyhound network connects with most major destinations in Canada. There are numerous road border crossings. Note that popular crossing points (such as Niagara Falls) can have lengthy queues on weekends. Several ferries run from the USA to Canada on the east coast, and from Washington State to Vancouver Island.

Land travel is much cheaper and, if you don't mind long distances, much more interesting than flying. The bus network is the most extensive public transportation system and is generally less expensive than the limited train service. Air fares are fairly expensive but, if you're strapped for time, the distances you may need to travel are so great that you'll probably have to fly. Air Canada is the major domestic airline.

In many ways, the best way to experience the country is to rent a car. Canadians drive on the right side of the road, as in the USA. A valid driver's license from any country is good in Canada for three months.

Spring, summer and autumn are all ideal for touring, though if you want to ski you'll naturally have to come in winter or early spring. For campers and those who want to visit the far north, the summer months of July and August are best. Summer is also when many of the country's festivals take place. Note that the peak tourist season is between Victoria Day (late May) and Labour Day (early September).

The Quebec City Winter Carnival, which takes place during the last two weeks of February, features parades, ice sculptures, a snow slide, dances and music. Ottawa's three-week Winterlude fetes all things snowy in February. The Montreal Jazz Festival at the end of June and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival in July both attract international and local players. Two major events in Toronto are Caribana, held in August, which is a cultural exchange offering ethnic music, dance and food, and the Gay Pride Day Parade through the downtown area, which takes place in June.

Canada's greatest attribute is its natural environment - it would be simpler to list the activities that aren't available in Canada than those that are. Pursuits on the available list should begin with hiking. In Ontario, Killarney Provincal Park has a long-distance trail around the tops of its rounded mountains. Other impressively vertical regions include Gaspésie Park and Mont Tremblant Park in Quebec, Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, and Cape Breton National Park in Nova Scotia. More hardcore multiday hikes can be had in Pukaskwa National Park on Lake Superior and on the partially completed coast-to-coast Trans Canada Trail. Many parks provide outfitters for canoeing, kayaking and white-water rafting. Some of the best paddling can be found at Nova Scotia's Kejiumkujik National Park.

For beach activities, surf's up on the east coast at Ingonish Beach in Nova Scotia and in the warmer waters of Melmerby and Caribou beaches near New Glasgow. Skiers are spoilt for choice, with good cross-country skiing found all across the land. The main alpine ski centres are in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and around Whistler in British Columbia. There's also rock climbing; Collingwood and Thunder Bay in Ontario, Banff and Jasper in Alberta, and Squamish in BC are all good places to try. Fishing is abundant and popular, even in winter; you'll need a license. Some of the most popular cycling areas are the hilly Gaspé Peninsula in Québec and the Maritime Provinces, excluding Newfoundland. In Ontario try the Bruce Peninsula and the Thousand Islands Parkway. There's also good cycling in the Rocky Mountains (especially off-road mountain biking) and throughout British Columbia.

More attractions in Canada